Fireproof building construction.



PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

No. 718,214. V

J. T.-OBRIEN. FIREPROOF BUILDING GONSTRUGTION. I APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 14, 1902.

K0 MODEL.

UNI ED STATES JOHN T.

PATENT OFFICE.

QBRIEN, or PH LADELPI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIREPROCF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,214, dated January 13, 1903-.

Application filed June 14,1902. Eerial No. 111,670. (No inodeh) commonly constructed of metallic lathing secured to the frameworkand coated with plastic material, which is forced through the interstices of the lathing to a sufficient extent to become bonded on the interior. It has also been proposed to form walls, ceilings, and arches of blocks or sheets formed of metallic lathing embedded in cementand secured to the framework. With the first method difficulty has bedding the lathing in the plastic material to a sufficient extent on the interior or back, which is desirable as well for the greater strength of the plastic surface and the protection of the metalliclathing as for the increased fireproof qualities of the wall. With the second method difficulty has been experienced in securing thesheets or blocks to the framework without breaking them and so as to present in the finished wall or ceiling a continuous unbroken surface,-without cracks.

or space between adjacent blocks or sheets.

It is the object of this invention to enable the framework to be sheathed or covered with sheets or sections of metallic lathing embedded in plastic material in such manner that the sheets or sections may be easily attached to the framework without injury to the plas-' tic body and thatthe wall or eeiling when finished may consist of a practically continuous sheathing of metal and. plastic material, with the plastic material extending continuously over the inside as well as over the outside and without any cracks or openings between the edges of adjacent sheets or sections. To this end I form the plastic sheets or sections of sheets of metallic lathing embedded in plastic material to a sufiicient depth on each side, with the edges of the lathing projecting beyond the edges of the plastic body,v so as to form metallic edges by which thesections or sheets may be secured to the studding or framework without injuring the. plastic body. The spaces between adjacent sheets. or sections formed by these 7 been experienced in properly emsheet A of woven wire, expanded metal, or 70 the plastic body.

.ing'a wall or ceiling projecting edges of metalliclathing are filled so that the adjacent sections are united and a practically continu- 5 5 with plastic material,

ous wall or sheathing is obtained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my improved plastic sheets or tiles. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a part of a wall or ceiling formed of my plaster sheets or tiles, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3, which isa.

plan view. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a fireproof ceiling construction employing my plaster'sheets or tiles. Fig. 5 is a cross-section-of part of a plaster sheet or tile embodying a form of the invention, and Fig. 6 is a section of a curved tile or sheet adapted for cornices, &c.

The plaster sheet or tile is composed of a other suitable form of metallic lathing embedded in'a covering of plastic material B, with the edges 0 of the lathing exposed and forming a projecting edge about theedges of with plaster on each side, preferably, but not necessarily, to an equal thickness. In formof these plaster sheets or tiles they are laid upon thestudding or frame D,a nd the projecting edges Got the metal sheet 8e are secured to the frame or studding by nails or'staples L. There are thus formed openings or spaces between the edges of the plaster bodies of adjacent tiles occupied.- by the metals edges 0, by which the tiles are secured These spaces are filled with v to the frame. plastic material, as shown at E, so that a continuous unbroken plastered surface is formed. The projecting edges 0 of the lathing form in t ese interstices a surface of metallic lath- 9p ing 0 which the plastic material may be easily appliedand to which it will'become firmly attached andbound. 7 Not only does the plaster thus applied serve to fill the spaces between adjacent tiles and present an u n- 5 broken outer surface, but it also serves to unite adjacent tiles firmly together, and if the plaster is forced through the interstices of the edges of thelathing to a depth at the that at the front the wall or back equal, to ceiling produced will, in efiect, be a continuous uniform sheet or layer of plaster and metallic lathiug.

For flat-walls and ceilings the plastersheets The metal sheet A is coated 75 are made flat; but they may be made in angular, curved, or irregular shapes to form arches, cornices, and moldings, as the conformation of the walls and ceilings may require. For illustration I have shown in Fig. 6 such a curved plaster sheet or tile.

After the wall or ceiling has been formed in the manner described the outer surface may be coated with a layer of fine plaster or coating, as is customary. The plaster sheets or tiles may, however, be provided with this outer finish or coating, as shown in Fig. 5. In this case the body B of the tile or sheet in which the lathing A is embedded is formed of coarse plasterer-equivalent material, and the hard finish or coating'H is applied to the outer surface. ,7

In some cases, particularly when the tiles or plaster sheets are thick, I find it expedient to mold the back of the sheet or tile on a corru gated form so as to produce corrugations F, as shown in Fig. 5, as this tends to press the plastic material tightly upon the metal lathing and to bind it more firmly.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the use of my plaster sheets ortiles in fireproof ceiling constructions in which the sheets are attached by means of the exposed metallic edges 0 and suspension hooks or wires K to cross-bars J between the I-beams I.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

A wall or ceiling consisting of a series of plaster tiles composed of sections formed of metallic lathing embedded in a rigid body of plastic material with their edges in all directions projecting beyond the edges of the plastic portions and forming substantially continuous edges of metallic lathingfabout the a plastic body, and secured to the framework by said projecting edges so as to form a seriesof wholly isolated portions of plastic material entirely separated from one another by the intervening edges of metallic lathing, and a filling pf plastic material in said spaces between adjacent portions of plastic material.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN T. OBRIEN. Witnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, J. W. KENWORTHY. 

